PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
It appears to me desirable that the Governor of British Guiana should be furnished with information in regard to the emigrants per "Boddington," in order that if the authorities think proper to do so, the proper steps may be taken to protect the public interest.
The people per "Australia" are a very fine set, the best who have yet emigrated. The "Australia" is admirably adapted for emigration service. Her great height between decks gives abundant ventilation, and although she was limited by the first instructions of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co., to carry emigrants on the allowance of 15 superficial feet per man, she might safely and comfortably have taken 80 to 100 more emigrants, giving to all the full allowance of 12 superficial feet.
My information regarding the "Boddington" was obtained on my second visit to Amoy, between the 12th and 20th instant.
I enclose a few lines for Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co., with copies of the letters from Captain Hurst and Messrs. Tait and Co., which please forward, provided you approve of what I have done. The letter is open for your perusal.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) JAMES T. WHITE
I have partly engaged the services of a respectable interpreter to go by the first vessel to Demerara.
S. Walcott, Esq., Secretary to the
Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners.
DEAR SIR,
Barque "Samuel Boddington," Amoy, November 24, 1852.
It is painful to state this ship is still lying here with 157 very indifferent coolies and 56 fine healthy boys on board, and the demurrage daily going on. There has been six ships despatched since I have been lying in this port. On Saturday the 21st November the Lady Amberst" and "Royal Saxon" completed their numbers. Messrs. Tait and Co. must hold most strange instructions from Turner and Co. in Canton, or else Tait and Co, don't do justice by them. All I can say is, had Turner and Co. empowered me to get the coolies, I would have sailed a month since with a full and complete number, according to the Act of Parliament. I am sorry to say there appears at present no prospect whatever in getting away. On the 18th they got one, next day not any. I am at a loss to understand the connexion between Tait and Co. and the people connected with the Havannah business. Syme, Muir have now on hand 100); they have just completed the "Lady Amherst." The coolies must be misled in some way, or they never would prefer going to a slave country to going to a good English free settlement. I wish to God I had only power to interfere between Turner and Co. and Messrs. Tait and Co. All I can say is, that Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co. are robbed of their money.
I must inform you that Messrs. Tait and Co. are determined to ship small boys under 14 years of age, and call them adults. This is another piece of swindling towards our "West India friends. I must say, that from all I can learn, they wish to get us away with anything; but you may rely, and inform our friends in Demerara, that it is my determination to have a good cargo of field labourers before I sail or move from this, Nothing goes on flourishing here but that cursed Havannal business, where half of them will be sold for slaves. It is high time the British Government interfered with it. I must also inform you that this ship was, by right, in turn before the "Blenheim," but the “ Blenheim" was chartered to go to the Havannal, so they thought proper to say the coolies collected was for the "Blenheim." My ship was chartered in Canton, and came into port before the "Blenheim "was chartered or even had half of her cargo delivered. You may, if you think proper, inform Messrs Turner and Co. how their friends act towards them here. I am quite tired of going to Messrs. Tait and Co. on Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co.'s business. It is next to being insulted every time I go. I hope you will see to this. The Spanish agents collect any number of coolie at Messrs. Syme, Muir. I should say, Messra. Tait and Co. must have a great deal to do with this 8,000 coolies for the Havannah. By this conveyance I shall write Messrs. Turner and Co., Canton. They are instructed to collect a cargo of coolies. We have on board, the lame, blind, dumb, itch, pox, in fact, disgusting to the eye. It would seem to me that anything will do for the British colony. I am happy to say that I have repeatedly made it my business to go on board the Havannah ships, and have examined the coolies to see the sorts of men sent, and can with safety say they all are superior to those we now have on board. Nine-tenths of those that have been sent are emucinted and full of disease, insomuch they never can be made useful field labourers. The boys will make the best labourers for our colonies; they are free from disease, generally well-limbed, and will soon becoine accustomed to our way, and won't wish to return to this wretched country again. Dr. Ely will, most likely, forward to you a correspondence which will show to you their greatest possible wish is to send on board anything they may choose. I am sorry to
EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.
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trouble you with so long an account, but if Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co. have coolies sent from China, they had better send up the dollars and a competent agent. ship had been for the Havannah, she would have been half way there now.
I am, &c. Mr. White.
(Signed) JoпN W. HURST.
MY DEAR SIR,
If this
HAVING duly considered all have written to you, I do think Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co., should be made acquainted with what I have stated to you. I have no time to write them; you will much oblige me by writing those gentlemen. I trust I may be in London in May next, and will see those gentlemen; you may please say I will call on them. My coolies look much better in their new clothes. Adieu.
(Signed) J. W. H.
MR ELY, the surgeon, and myself, have examined the coolies on board the "Royal Saxon," and we find the very worst coolies on board that ship is better than our very best men.
I have just heard how this is: Captain Charlesworth pays eight dollars to procure his cargo, and I believe Tait and Co. only pay six. This accounts for the miserable, starved, diseased lot sent on board her. If you think fit, you may send this letter to Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co., of London.
(Signed) J. W. H.
YESTERDAY the coolies were examined and paid; we mustered 308 statute emigrants, and 46 boys under the age of 13 or 14, the ship measuring for 335 statute; therefore I am short in my proper number, 3. But Amoy is in such an unsettled state now, that we don't see a prospect of getting another cooly if I waited. I sail this day for Demerara
Yours, &c. (Signed) J. W. HURST, Master,
DEAR SIR,
Ship "Samuel Boddington."
Amoy, December 16, 1852. WE have before us your letter of 14th instant, giving cover to a communication sent you by Captain Hurst of the "Samuel Boddington," complaining of the description of people sent on board his vessel as emigrants for Demerara.
The only
one of the various statements put forth by him that we can admit to be correct, is that referring to part of the people intended for his vessel, deserted on their removal from our vessel to his. This was as much of a disappointment to us as it could possibly be to him; there was nothing in the shape of improper restraint used towards them.
The people put on board the "Boddington," were of a class in no way inferior to other emigrants leaving at that time and since. Captain Hurst's proposal regarding boys, was that two under age should go as an adult, but such an arrangement should not be noted on his charterparty, that document providing full freight for every emigrant landed The "Blenheim," of which mention is inade, was chartered before the "Bod- dington" reached this port, and her charter party executed, as can be shown you when- ever you wish to see it. That Captain Hurst mentions us in a very unbecoming manner all through his letter, is saying what must have been evident to you.
We deem it necessary to say to you, in justice to ourselves, that no attention was bestowed upon any other vessel loading emigrants during the period the "Boddington was in course of loading. We enclose copy of the invoiced stores, with note of clothing for 308 adults and 44 youths, and copy of our letter of instructions handed to the captain.
We have, &c. J. F. White, Esq., Amoy.
(Signed) TAIT AND Co.
SIB,
Enclosure 3 in No. 30.
Hong Kong, December 26, 1852. INTELLIGENCE having reached his Excellency the Superintendent of Trade, that disturbances of a serious nature had occurred at Amoy, in connexion with the emigration from that port, he decided upon instituting an inquiry into the matter, and with this view despatched Her Majesty's ship "Hermes" to Amoy, and constituted a court of inquiry, to consist of the Acting Consul at Amoy, Mr. Backhouse, Captain Fishbourne, Commander of the "Hermes," and Mr. Frederick Harvey, Assistant in the Office of the Superintendency. Believing it the part of my duty to be present at this inquiry I applied for and obtained permission to accompany Mr. Harvey and Captain Fishbourne in the steamer. We left Hong Kong on the 9th instant, and reached Amoy on the 12th.
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Encl. 3 in No. 30